FBC – Chapter 214 Murder

The courtyard Gu Hua gave to Wang Linyi was exactly the residence that Pei Yi had gifted her.

Dong Mo arranged a carriage, and since the driver knew the place, he took Wang Linyi and her family directly there.

The courtyard was in the western district of the city, where commoners lived. The streets there were chaotic, but this particular yard was tucked deep inside an alley—quiet amid the bustle.

It wasn’t large, but it had two entrances. After passing the screen wall and the carved hanging-flower gate, one would see three main rooms flanked by two side rooms, with one wing on the east and one on the west.

Before marriage, Wang Linyi had lived like a commoner, in conditions far worse than this. Seeing the house now, she was overjoyed.

“Wonderful, wonderful, truly wonderful!”

Her mother was delighted with the clean and tidy courtyard.

Her father, with tears streaming down his wrinkled face, was too choked to speak. He wandered about, touching everything he could.

Her younger brother’s eyes shone with excitement as he looked toward the wing room: “Sister, can I stay in the east wing? The sunlight there is perfect for studying. Next spring at the provincial exam, I must pass, so I can bring honor to our Wang family and have the chance to repay my niece.”

“Though your brother’s health isn’t great, he has always been diligent in his studies,” her father said proudly.

“Of course you can. But you must remember your promise—study hard. Once you enter officialdom, you must protect Hua’er with all your strength.”

Wang Linyi’s eyes reddened.

Her brother lifted his chin proudly: “Naturally. After all, I am her only uncle.”

The coachman, grinning, pushed open the main hall door as he explained:

“There’s been an old woman coming every other day to clean, so the place is kept neat. All the household supplies were newly provided yesterday by our lady. The left side wing is a small kitchen. Three loads of charcoal have been stocked, enough for several days. Every room has its own stove.”

Supporting her mother, Wang Linyi entered the main hall. Furniture was all complete—tables, chairs, benches.

“Please make yourselves comfortable, Madam. I’ll return to report,” the coachman said.

Choking up, she pulled a few pieces of silver from Zhou Zhilan’s bundle and handed them over: “Please, give my thanks to Hua’er. Tomorrow, I’ll go personally to the Duke’s mansion to express my gratitude.”

Wang Linyi dared not think of Gu Hua as her daughter anymore—she was like a star in the heavens, a savior to her family.

The coachman refused: “This is just my duty. The Duke’s mansion has strict orders; I dare not take your reward. Please rest well tonight. Tomorrow, Madam will send someone to take you to the Kaifeng yamen to submit the documents and register a new household for your Wang family. Oh yes, Madam also said that after you return from the yamen, she’ll summon brokers to bring some maidservants, so you may choose two to serve you.”

Wang Linyi’s tears fell uncontrollably: “Good… Please tell Madam to rest well. She needn’t trouble herself further. We can go to the yamen on our own.”

Gu Hua was carrying a child, yet she still went to such lengths for her… but what had she ever done for her daughter?

After the coachman left, Wang Linyi excitedly helped settle her parents. Her brother rushed in with arms full, face flushed with joy.

“Sister, Father, Mother, look! These are books I’ve always wanted but could never afford! And these pens and paper are the finest!”

Wang Linyi’s chest tightened with guilt. She couldn’t utter a word.

So it turned out… Gu Hua had considered everything for them.

Her mother checked the kitchen and exclaimed in surprise: “It’s silver-thread charcoal! I’ve only ever seen it used in the Wang family residence before. I never thought we’d use it ourselves. Your father won’t have to cough from smoke anymore.”

She then entered the bedroom and cried out: “The bedding is all new! And the wardrobe—full of clothes, all new as well!”

Supporting her father inside, Wang Linyi followed, while her brother clutched his books, reluctant to set them down. He trailed behind, saying: “My room is the same. It’s as if our niece knew I’d be staying in the east wing.”

Her mother’s eyes reddened as she turned to Wang Linyi: “That child Gu Hua… we’ve wronged her too deeply. She’s truly pitiful.”

“Yes, Mother, yes… It’s my weakness, my shame toward that child.”

Unable to hold back, Wang Linyi collapsed against her mother’s shoulder, sobbing bitterly.

The family wept together for a time, then slowly calmed, each busying themselves with unpacking.

Wang Linyi picked up a basket from the kitchen.

“Mother, Father, I’ll go buy some ingredients. Tomorrow I’ll make a few snacks for Hua’er.”

“Good, go ahead.”

Her heart light, Wang Linyi thought—she had no ability to do great things, but she could still cook nourishing foods for a pregnant woman.

Later, she could care for her during confinement, and even help raise her grandchild.

The more she thought, the happier she felt. After a lifetime of hardship, at last she could live in peace.

But as she walked, she suddenly noticed two men loitering suspiciously near the alley entrance.

Quickly, she hid in the shadow of a doorway and peeked out. One of them wore ochre-red clothes—just like the livery of the Marquis of Wenchang’s household servants.

Before long, the two slipped away, one after the other.

Hurrying forward, she couldn’t see the first man anymore, only the second’s back. But she was certain—he was from the Marquis of Wenchang’s residence.

Her brows furrowed. Could it be Gu Yuan still hadn’t given up? Still trying to cause trouble?

She grew wary but was not afraid.

Tomorrow, once the divorce papers sealed with the Gu family’s stamp and handprints were submitted to the yamen, the separation would be official and irreversible.

Unfamiliar with the streets, she asked around here and there until she bought all the food she wanted. Cheerfully, she headed home, imagining the scene tomorrow when she’d present the handmade treats to Gu Hua, who would eat them happily. She couldn’t help smiling in bliss.

The alley to her new home was just ahead. She quickened her steps—some ingredients needed to soak overnight.

Suddenly, people around her panicked and scattered.

“Fire! Fire! Put out the fire, quick!”

She saw people running past with buckets, basins, even mops—all rushing toward her new home.

Crowds gathered, voices overlapping:

“I just went to look—it’s the two-entry courtyard at the very end of the alley!”

“What? But no one lives there. How did it catch fire?”

“No one lives there, but old Granny Chen comes every two days to clean. Looked like someone owned it.”

“Didn’t a carriage drop a family off there just now? Maybe it’s theirs.”

“Oh heavens, really? How terrible—just moved in and now a fire!”

Wang Linyi’s mind exploded. She sprinted madly into the alley.

The fire brigade had already arrived, sealing off the lane as soldiers fought the blaze.

The crowd was thick, and she pushed frantically forward, crying: “Let me through! Please let me in!”

At last reaching the alley entrance, she was blocked by the soldiers.

“Madam, it’s burning too fiercely. You can’t go in.”

She stared at the flames devouring the house, her eyes blood-red, screaming hysterically as she shoved against the men holding her back.

“My mother, my father, my brother are inside! Let me through, let me through!”

The leader, covered in ash and batting at sparks on his clothes, scolded: “Even we can’t get in. How could you, a woman? If you rush in, you’ll only add to the dead. Those inside… are most likely gone already.”

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees, sobbing with heart-wrenching despair.

“Father, Mother, Brother—why? Why! Oh, Heaven, why!”

At that moment, in her study, Gu Hua was speaking with Min Dongsheng when Dong Mo knocked urgently.

“Madam, something terrible has happened.”

“What is it?”

Seeing his deeply furrowed brow and shocked face, she tensed as well.

“The house Madam Wang just moved into today caught fire. Her parents and younger brother… were all burned to death.”

“Burned to death!”

Gu Hua leapt up in shock.